According to Dr. Nolet of Pine Creek Veterinary Clinic, anti-venom ranges from $600-800 per vile, and some cases require more than one.

Dr. Nolet also recommends a new rattlesnake vaccine that does not neutralize the venom but can minimize the effect. These vaccines cost $25 and are injected annually.

For the best snakebite prevention, Karnow recommended facilities, like Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises in Corona, that train animals in rattlesnake awareness.

"These classes use actual, defanged rattlesnakes on animals and teach them to recognize smell and sound," said Karnow.

Ticks

Ticks are a prevalent species in Nevada County and carry diseases such as Lyme, HGE and Babesiosis which can be transferred to your dog and also to you.

"You want to comb the hair of dogs with a fine-toothed comb to get the ticks after every exposure to wilderness," said Karnow.

Lions

"The pro for having dogs with you on a walk is that it discourages other predators, like lions, from attacking," said Karnow.

Earlier this month, a 63-year-old man was attacked by a lion while camping northwest of Nevada City.

"Lions attack by ambush," Karnow said. "If a lion sees two entities, it will be a lot more difficult for it to attack and often it won't, so it would be at your advantage if you have a dog with you."

For more information about staying safe during outdoor activities, you can visit www.hikewithyourdog.com - look under the "tips" section to help you get started.

Ryan Gallagher is a University of Nevada student working as an intern with The Union. Contact him via email at ncpcintern@swiftcom.com or call (530) 477-4234. Staff Writer Christopher Rosacker contributed to this article.